DeMaio outspends rivals in mayor's race

Filner's money woes persist

Republican City Councilman Carl DeMaio has spent more than $2.1 million so far in his bid for San Diego mayor, far surpassing his lone remaining rival — Democratic Rep. Bob Filner — who has spent the least with $560,000.

The tallies show how the two candidates took far different routes to finish at the top of a crowded June primary that also included independent Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher and Republican District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. Now DeMaio and Filner, who were separated by less than 2,300 votes or 1 percentage point in the primary, face each other in a November runoff.

DeMaio, 37, led in money throughout the race with his war chest filled with more than $1 million from donors, $130,000 from the local Republican Party and $776,000 of his own money.

Filner, 69, struggled to raise money and finished fourth among the candidates in that category. He collected $423,000 from donors and nearly $94,000 from the local Democratic Party. Filner didn’t contribute any personal funds to his cause.

The money trend continued after the June 5 primary with DeMaio collecting nearly seven times as much in contributions — $82,709 to $12,230 — as Filner, according to the latest financial disclosures that reflect activity through June 30.

In a statement, Filner said he didn’t begin actively seeking funds until July 1 because he felt donors and voters deserved a break following the heated primary. He then accused DeMaio of using strong-arm tactics.

“Immediately after the June 5 election, my opponent began a high-pressure shakedown of special interests,” Filner said. “He’s been telling them that if they don’t contribute to his campaign, they will be punished after he’s elected. ... When I ask for contributions it’s on the basis of a shared vision for the future of our city, not on the basis of a threat if they don’t contribute. So far, the response has been extremely positive and we are on track to raise our projected budget of approximately $1.5 million.”

Ryan Clumpner, DeMaio’s campaign manager, released a statement in response to Filner.

“Throughout Congressman Filner’s decades in Washington, he’s developed a pattern of blaming others for his failures,” he said. “The reality is Congressman Filner has failed to raise money this entire campaign because the donors have severe doubts about his leadership abilities and have concluded he lacks a positive vision for our city that can unite and inspire people as DeMaio has.”

Fletcher, who finished third in the primary, collected the most money from individual donors with more than $1.3 million, but it wasn’t enough to capture a spot in the runoff. Dumanis, who struggled to establish any footing in the race, raised $686,000 from donors.

In all, the four major candidates spent a whopping $4.77 million through June 30, putting the contest on a pace to shatter what is believed to be the spending record set in 2008. That $5.5 million race pitted incumbent Jerry Sanders against businessman Steve Francis, who pumped $4.5 million of his own money into his failed challenge.